Adding RAM to MacBook Pro 13"

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John Luke1 Author

Level 3

771 points

Adding RAM to MacBook Pro 13"

Hi,

Here's my rig:

MacBook Pro 13” Mid 2012 model

Processor: 2.5GHz Intel Core i5

Model identifier: 9,2

Present RAM: 4GB Stock (2- 2GB sticks)

RAM specs: 204 pin DDR3 PC3-12800-DDR3-1600MHz

I run Parallels 10 & Windows 8.1 on it for business reasons (Gasp, I know....) and those seem to be real RAM hogs, so that's why I am considering adding more RAM.

The Apple support pages state 8GB is max RAM for my unit.

MacBook Pro: How to remove or install memory - Apple Support

However, I emailed customer service at OWC, and they spec both a RAM kit of 8GB (2- 4GB sticks), and a 16GB RAM kit (2- 8GB sticks) for my machine.

Can anyone verify that 16GB is indeed okay for my machine and Parallels 10 & Win 8.1 can access it?

Thanks, John

Posted on Jul 9, 2015 12:59 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Lanny

Level 6

13,183 points

Jul 9, 2015 2:11 PM in response to John Luke1

Yes, it will handle 16 Gigs.

You will need to adjust the amount of RAM used by Parallels in the Parallel setup preferences. It will make a recommended setting based on the amount of RAM that is available.

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Answer 2

John Luke1 Author

Level 3

771 points

Jul 9, 2015 2:58 PM in response to Lanny

Thanks. How did you get that panel to show up? My "About this Mac" looks different.

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Answer 3

Lanny

Level 6

13,183 points

Jul 9, 2015 3:04 PM in response to John Luke1

It's not from, "About This Mac," it's from an app named Mactracker:

The same information is also available from: http://www.everymac.com

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Answer 4

John Luke1 Author

Level 3

771 points

Jul 9, 2015 3:27 PM in response to Lanny

I just got the Mactracker. Thanks for the lead on that.

I was looking in my Parallels Prefs, and it won't let me adjust the RAM. It tells me to restore Windows, then quit it. So I restore Windows, but once I quit Windows, this prefs box disappears and I can't change anything.

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Answer 5

Lanny

Level 6

13,183 points

Jul 9, 2015 3:38 PM in response to John Luke1

You can't change it when the virtual Windows 8 is running. You need to change it without the virtual part running. And you should only make the change after you upgrade the RAM.

Shut down Windows, then click on the icon in the lower right hand corner:

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Answer 6

John Luke1 Author

Level 3

771 points

Jul 9, 2015 3:43 PM in response to Lanny

But when I shut down Windows, that prefs panel disappears, and when I reopen again, the controls are still unmoveable. Hopefully adding RAM will allow me to adjust it. I just placed an order with OWC.

Do you know what it means in Parallels to 'Free Up Disk Space'?

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Answer 7

Lanny

Level 6

13,183 points

Jul 9, 2015 3:50 PM in response to John Luke1

You need to change the preferences so that Parallels doesn't shutdown when you Turn off Windows. It's not showing because you're running Windows.

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Answer 8

John Luke1 Author

Level 3

771 points

Jul 9, 2015 3:56 PM in response to Lanny

But I just quit Windows. Can't seem to find prefs in Parallels to keep this window open when I quit Windows.

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Answer 9

Lanny

Level 6

13,183 points

Jul 9, 2015 4:20 PM in response to John Luke1

Can't seem to find prefs in Parallels to keep this window open when I quit Windows.

They are here:

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Answer 10

John Luke1 Author

Level 3

771 points

Jul 9, 2015 5:23 PM in response to Lanny

Thanks again Lanny. I did see those, but the wording confused me.

I see where my error was, I was only suspending/resuming Windows, not really shutting down & re-starting. Is shutting down /restarting better than suspending/resumming for daily use?

So based on what I want to do, those settings you have would work?

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